achievement inspiring

Celebrating 37 Years Nevada Women’s Fund Newsletter 10-Spring 2019

2019 SALUTE TO WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT

Ieshia Champs to Keynote

Women of Achievement Luncheon!

This year’s speaker for the Salute to Women of Achievement luncheon is Ieshia Champs. She is a recent graduate of Thurgood Marshall School of Law, a single mother of five wonderful children, and the first person in her family to pursue a graduate degree. Ieshia was a prior high‐school dropout, and was pregnant with her fourth child, when she suffered a crushing barrage of obstacles. She lost her job, lost her home in a fire, and lost her children’s father to cancer. With the sup‐port of her children and her pastor, she managed to return to school and receive her GED at the age of twenty‐four. Before matricula ng into law school she re‐ceived her undergraduate degree at the University of Houston‐Downtown, ma‐joring in Business Applied Administra on.

Ieshia Champs’ story of how she has overcome the odds has spread all over the world. Beginning with the local news media in Houston, people have been in‐spired by her story through media sources such as; ABC Local & ABC & NBC Na‐

onwide News, Inside Edi on, The Shade Room, Yahoo Lifestyle, Ellen De‐generes, and an appearance on the Steve Harvey Show.

Dana Benne to Chair the 2019 Women of Achievement Luncheon!

Dana Benne is President of the Nevada Mining Associa on, the trade associa on for Nevada’s oldest and most enduring STEM industry. A lifelong Nevadan with an abiding curiosity about Nevada’s history, Dana grew up in Reno and eventually earned a PhD in history with a focus on women in the Nevada Legislature. She has worked for state government, owned her own business, and published three books and numerous ar cles.

“It is such an honor to serve as chair of the 2019 luncheon,” Benne said. “It is exci ng to recognize and applaud the outstanding women in our region for their professional, personal and community achieve‐ments that support the on‐going efforts of Nevada Women’s Fund.” In addi on to chairing this important event, Dana serves on several boards, including the Nevada Board of Economic Development.

Dana Benne , President, Nevada Mining Associa on Chair, 2019 Salute to Women of Achievement

R I C H A R D H O L M A N P H O T O G R A P H Y

Ieshia Champs, J.D. Keynote Speaker

2019 Salute to Women of Achievement

Nevada Women’s Fund 2019 Hall of Fame!

Sandy Pearce Raffealli will be inducted to the Nevada Women’s Fund Hall of Fame!

Sandy says, “Being honored by the women I most admire and from whom I have learned so much is humbling and gra fying. Thank you to everyone involved in choosing me for this re‐markable honor. The Nevada Women's Fund and its mission have been very important to me over the last 30 years. How fortunate I am to be involved with this terrific group!”

Sandy is also Nevada’s nominee for the 2019 TIME Dealer of the Year award. Each year Ally, TIME Magazine and the Na onal Automobile Dealers Associa on (NADA) team up to celebrate the many ways auto dealers are doing it right in their industry and giving back with extraordi‐nary contribu ons to their community.

Bill Pearce Motors encompasses five dealerships in Reno represen ng brands BMW, Honda, MINI, Porsche and Volvo. Sandy manages the business along with her family, and has been a strong supporter of the Nevada Women’s Fund for many years!

Sandy Pearce Raffealli

Bill Pearce Motors

Nevada Women’s Fund celebrates Sandy Pearce Raffealli!

President’s Message

Isabelle Rodriguez Wilson, President and CEO

Photo by: Johnstone Studios

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Nevada Women’s Fund is celebra ng 2019! As we look ahead to the coming year, our Board has taken a laser focused approach to leading the organiza on, marked with reflec on on our past accomplishments, review of our current goals, and priori za on of our objec ves. On February 1st, we gathered Board members, Com‐munity Stakeholders and Staff at a strategic planning session which proved both insigh ul and inspira on‐al. We resoundingly agreed that the Nevada Wom‐en’s Fund should con nue to focus on the things we do well, the maintenance of our brand authen city, and how we transi on purposefully into the future! We have had a tremendous response to our call for scholarship applications with 781 applications re‐ceived to date. Our allocations committee will be busy reviewing the applications and the scholarships will be awarded in June. The 2019 Salute to Women of Achievement garners our attention and excitement over the next several months as we work to honor the many women in our community who have invested in and enriched our Northern Nevada community. We are so fortunate to have Dana Bennett’s leadership as Chair this year. Dana and the Nevada Mining Association are founda‐tional to the state’s future as leaders in providing educational opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math, which aligns closely with our mission. Likewise, I am extremely excited to be able to bring Iesha Champs (and her children!) as our Keynote Speaker! She truly embodies the spirit of Nevada Women’s Fund Scholarship recipients! What an inspi‐rational story filled with incredible strength and in‐tegrity! Our Hall of Fame honoree for 2019 is our very own Sandy Raffealli. Sandy epitomizes the spirit of cele‐bration and lifting up our community by supporting women and their families! Thank you for your continued support of the Nevada Women’s Fund. On behalf of the NWF staff and board, thank you for your continued support which inspires so many to achieve their goals. You have positively impacted the lives of aspiring students, mothers, women and children. Sincerely, Isabelle Rodriguez Wilson

The Nevada Women’s Fund Board Alumni provides scholarships to several women each year! The Annual Board Alumni Celebra on was held on February 5, 2019, at CINCIN, in the El Dorado Resort. The gathering gave the Alumni a chance to meet and talk with the women who received Alumni Scholarships in 2018, and raise funds for scholarships for 2019!

NEVADA WOMEN’S FUND HOLDS ANNUAL STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION!

As part of the session this year, the Nevada Women’s Fund Board invited several stakeholders from our Northern Nevada commu‐nity to provide their in‐sight. A huge thank you to those who provided their valuable observa ons and input!

NEVADA WOMEN’S FUND BOARD ALUMNI!

The Nevada Women’s Fund Board of Directors held it’s annual Strategic Plan‐ning Session on February 1, 2019, at the Nugget Casino Resort.

The session provides new and exis ng board members the opportunity to get to know each other be er, while formula ng the goals and objec ves for the organiza on for the coming year.

Facilitated by Bethany Sexton, NWF Board member and Vice President and Administrator of Department of Medicine, Renown Health, the Board also took the opportunity to set up it’s commi ee structure and membership for 2019.

2019 Board of Directors Kerry Eaton, Chair

Jamie Gazza Vice Chair Ronele Dotson, Recorder Sarah Crumby, Treasurer

Kristen Chinvorasapak, Immediate Past Chair

Amanda Alfaro Sarah E. Baley

Carolyn Barbash Olivia Baugh

Alexia Bra o s Jobson Megan Brown Debby Bullen ni Michele Casey Valerie J. Clark Kelly Corrigan Jen Eastwood

Tricia Gallenbeck Andi Guevara

Beth Hutson Joanna Jacob Jill Johnson

Marge Millar Kaitlyn Ovard Kathy Picollo Karen Purcell

Bethany Sexton Amy Shocket

Chris na Stoever Young Jamii Uboldi Dawn Welsh

Ann Wilkinson Sharon Wurm

Dr.Olivia Baugh Internist

Renown Regional Medical Center

Amanda Alfaro Owner and Managing Broker

Ferrari‐Lund Real Estate

Jen Eastwood Director of Public Rela ons

Foundry

NEVADA WOMEN’S FUND NEW BOARD MEMBERS!

Kelly Corrigan Director of Marke ng, Runner & Sponsor

Rela ons, Race178

Tricia Gallenbeck

Vice President/General Manager Reno Media Group

Andi Guevara Anchor/Reporter

2 News

Beth Hutson M.D. / Owner

My Women’s Center

Marge Millar Business Manager

Keep Truckee Meadows Beau ful

Special thanks to outgoing Board Members for six years of outstanding volunteer service!

Ann Burns Eugenia Larmore Candalera Slider

Promo on Director, 2 News President, EKAY Economic Consultants Physician Assistant—Cer fied Swi Urgent Clinic

Jill Johnson

Director of Communica ons & Alumni Rela ons Bishop Manogue Catholic High School

The Nevada Women’s Fund 11th Annual Power of the Purse was held November 16, 2018 at the Downtown Reno Ballroom. The event featured a total of 73 local vendors who sold a wide array of products that included exquisite jewelry, delectable food items, Christmas ornaments, hair products and beau fully made clothing. Thanks to the generosity of our board members the purse raffle consisted of 24 designer bags with brands ranging from Kate Spade, LeVian, and Coach! More than 800 guests a ended, culmina ng in another successful and fun event!

NEVADA WOMEN’S FUND SPONSORS

FAMILY ESTATE PLANNING SERIES

NWF sponsorship of this important educa on and

informa on series allows you to a end free of

charge, any or all of the sessions. Contact the

Community Founda on of Western Nevada TO‐

DAY for your reserva on (775) 333‐5499. Seats

are limited and will be on a first‐come‐first served

basis.

Estate decisions require knowledge in many are‐

as: accoun ng, finance, legal, insurance, taxes,

investments and charitable planning. Experts will

help you navigate the topics of advanced health

care direc ves; charitable income & tax planning;

being a trustee and executor; and more. The

workshops take place over eight consecu ve

weeks.

Classes are offered to you as a public service. No

financial or insurance products will be sold. Your

name will not be given to the speakers. All speak‐

ers are volunteers and recognized local experts in

their field.

NEVADA WOMEN’S FUND CELEBRATES

THE 2018 POWER OF THE PURSE!

LEAVE YOUR MARK ON NEVADA’S FUTURE!

Sheila Colfer, Broker at Commercial Property Services in Reno is Nevada Women’s Fund’s most recent

scholarship donor. As a na ve Nevadan Sheila established scholarships to help women entering the medi‐

cal field in Northern Nevada. The scholarships are named a er her mother and grandmother, con nuing

their legacies into Nevada’s future. “These scholarships are a fi ng tribute to the strong women I have

had in my life, while making a huge difference in the lives of women and their families!”

NEVADA WOMEN’S FUND CELEBRATES NEW DONORS!

Karyn Murray & Ka e Osgood, sisters, and own‐

ers of Brookfield School in Reno, have estab‐

lished the Brookfield School Scholarship with the

Nevada Women’s Fund which will help women

entering the field of educa on.

While making a powerful impact on the lives of women and

children living in Northern Nevada!

Dr. Robert Daugherty and his daughter, Allison

Smithson established the NV Teach Endowed

Scholarship funded by the Sandra Daugherty

Founda on. Named a er Allison’s beloved moth‐

er, the scholarship assists women preparing to

teach science.

The Laura Dianda Endowed Scholarship was es‐

tablished in honor of Laura Dianda, beloved wife

of Norm Dianda. Funded by, Q&D Construc on,

Western Nevada Supply, LP Insurance, and Norm

Dianda, the scholarship will assist women using

their educa onal degree to enter the field of

construc on.

The Beverly Acton Endowed Scholarship was established

in honor of Beverly Acton , mother to former NWF Board

member Laurie Acton. Funded by many friends of Beverly

Acton, the scholarship will assist women in their educa‐

onal efforts in perpetuity.

As we look to the future, we know the generosity of those who support the Nevada Women’s Fund make a difference in our suc‐cess. That is why your par cipa on as a donor is vitally important! We have several ways for donors such as yourself to engage in charitable giving to help us achieve our mission. To help us today, consider gi s of cash, stocks, mutual funds, real estate or other assets. To help us in the future, your legacy investment in the Nevada Women’s Fund is powerfully effec ve and a personal way for you to empower individual women to be educated in Northern Nevada for genera ons to come!

Nevada Women’s Fund does not charge fees to administer dona ons.

Donors are encouraged to name the scholarship, and set scholarship guidelines for the scholarship recipient qualifica ons.

Each year, donors are offered the chance to meet their individual scholarship recipient(s) so that you may learn the stories of the amazing women and find out exactly how the scholarship has improved their life.

Donors have the opportunity to set up either an Annual Scholarship or an Endowed Scholarship. Annual Scholarships are set up with a minimum annual contribu on of $1,500. Endowment Scholarships are set up with a minimum contribu on of $10,000. The endowment can build to this amount over a five‐year period of me. Once the endowment is established it will con nue to provide scholarships in perpetuity! Each year the NWF Board of Directors Alloca ons Commi ee, made up of board members and dedicated volunteers, reads and scores each scholarship applica on received. Each scholarship applica on is reviewed and scored based on their financial need, GPA, the quality of their personal statement and whether or not they are a returning applicant. The Fund scholarship cycle is annu‐al and typically administered in the spring of each calendar year. Scholarship awards are for a full academic year and distributed before fall of the same year.

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Nevada Women’s Fund

770 Smithridge Drive—Ste 300

Reno, NV 89502

Tel: (775) 786‐2335

Fax: (775) 786‐8152

Info@nevadawomensfund.org www.nevadawomensfund.org

achievement inspiring

Mark Your Calendar!

2019 Salute to Women of Achievement

Grand Sierra Resort ~ Grand Ballroom

May 23, 2019 | 11:30am—1:30p.m.

Tickets—$150 | Table of 10—$1,350

__________

2019 Power of the Purse

Downtown Reno Ballroom

November 22, 2019

Non‐profit org.

US postage

PAID

Reno, NV

Permit # 568

Like what the Fund is doing? Visit us on social media

for more informa on on events and view photos too!

YES ! I WANT TO INSPIRE ACHIEVEMENT IN HOPEFUL WOMEN & FAMILIES TODAY

$1,000 $500 $250 $100

Other _________ Enclosed check Credit Card#: _____-_____-_____-_____

Exp. Date: __/__ Billing Zip Code: _____

CVV: ____________________________

VISA AMEX

MC DISCOVER

Please keep my gift anonymous

Please send me information on includ- ing NWF in my will. _________________________________ Name on Card: _________________________________ Signature ________________________________ Date

Checks payable to: Nevada Women’s Fund

770 Smithridge Drive, Suite 300 Reno, NV 89502

Donate by visi ng www.nevadawomensfund.org/donate

Our Mission

The Nevada Women’s Fund is dedicated to strengthen‐

ing its community by empowering women to improve

their lives and those of their families. We iden fy cri cal

social needs and address those needs through scholar‐

ships and community grant making.

NWF makes inspiring achievement simple:

Make a general dona on to support

NWF’s mission of inspiring

achievement in women and families.

Form an educa on scholarship in the

amount of $1,500 annually. You name

the scholarship a er yourself or

someone you wish to honor..

Establish an endowment account with

a minimum and principal dona on of

$10,000, held in perpetuity.

The Nevada Women’s Fund is a Nevada corpora‐on and IRS designated 501(c)(3) tax‐exempt or‐

ganiza on formed to strengthen its community through educa on scholarships and community grant making. Your generous dona on may be tax deduc ble. Federal Tax #94‐2860375.

(NL Spring 2019)